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t^IC^A^D K. FO*, Publisher, J^anklin Square, fi. V 



LIFE ftllft BATTLES 



OF 



JAIBES J. CORBETT 



THE 



Ghampion Pugilist of the Worid. 



IliltllSTlJflTED. 



i^iCHai^D *^. pox, PUfiiiisHE^, pi^ja^^iii^ squash. 

1892. 



N- 



Oc/\ 






Entered according- to Act of Congress, in the year 1892, by 

RICHARD K. FOX. 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



PREFACE. 



Tfc order that the thousands interested in pugilism in both 
hemispheres, who have read or heard how James J. 
Corbett of San Francisco won the prize ring championship 
of the World, in a contest for $10,000 a side and a purse of 
$25,000 offered by the now historic Olympic Club, of New 
Orleans, La., may read a graphic description of the big 
battle and also know something about the champion of che 
world in 1892, Richard K. Fox has decided to publish the 
book entitled the l \ Life and Battles of James J. Corbett, 
the Champion Pugilist of the World." 

The book is illustrated and contains complete reports 
of Corbett ? s defeat of Jake Kilrain ; his drawn battle for 
$10,000 with Peter Jackson, the Black Demon, and his 
historic encounter with John L. Sullivan, who had held the 
title from 1882 to 1886 and from 1889 to 1892 without 
ever meeting with defeat. 

Owing to the fact that there are millions who did not see 
the great contest between Corbett and Sullivan on Sept. 7, 
1892, in New Orleans, the book will no doubt be read with 
considerable interest and will be kept as a reference. 

The Author. 




RICHHRD K. FOX 

Editot* and Pi»opi»ieto# of the " Police Gazette M and " Fox's 
Illustrated Weekly,'* 

DONOR OF THE POLICE GAZETTE HEAVY, MIDDLE, LIGHT AND 
FEATHER-WEIGHT PRIZE RING CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS, THE 
CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE ROWING CUP AND THE SIX- 
DAY GO-AS-YOU-PLEASE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT 
OF THE WORLD, ETC., ETC., VALUED 
AT OVER $100,000. 



INTRODUCTION. 



OINCE Tom Hyer, an American, born on February 7, 
1849, won the Prize Ring Championship of America 
at Still Pond, Maryland, there never has been such a good- 
ilooking and gentlemanly champion as James J. Corbett. of 
'San Francisco, Cal., better known in prize ring circles as 
j the California Wonder. Corbett is not only blessed with a 
pleasing countenance, but stripped in condition ready for 
the fray, he would be a great study for a sculptor, his form 
being of the Apollo order, while his physical development 
is grand, -and clearly demonstrates the benefits derived 
from early training and regular athletic exercises. 

As a boxer Corbett is a professor. He displays all the 
superior requisites of the science of the manly art of self- 
defence. His attitude is manly, and even in the most 
trying moments of a battle his postures are graceful. 

His intellectual attainments have made it possible for 

him to familiarize himself with the human frame, His 

Labits of life and his early education tended to make him 

prominent figure in social and professional walks of life. 

[e is essentially a gentleman, and has made hosts of 

friends. 




JAMBS J. CQRBETT, CHAMPION PUGILIST OF THE WORLD, 



ItlFE flllD BflTTItES OF Jfl|VlES J. COtJBETT. 



CHAPTER I. 

corbett's early life. 

Patrick el. Corbett sailed from Ireland to New Orleans 
in 1854, Not being as prosperous there as he wished, and 
hearing much of the u glorious climate of California/' he 
concluded to betake himself to the Golden Gate and settle 
th re. About three years after his arrival there he married, 
and nine children are the result of the union. The family 
consists of Frank, Harry, James J., Thomas, Joseph, 
Esther, Theresa, Kate and Mary. The third of the boys, 
whose full name is James John Corbett. was born Septem- 
ber 1, I806. He is now in his twenty-seventh year, and is 
the holder of the proud title " Champion Pugilist of the 
World," which he won by his game and complete defeat of 
the erstwhile idol of the pugilistic world, the mighty and 
hitherto invincible John Lawrence Sullivan, of Boston. 

Master Corbett was a pretty steady attendant of the 
Sacred Heart College, San Francisco, although his love for 
the game of fisticuffs caused his parents and teachers many 
an anxious hour, and his willingness to thump and be 
thumped was the principal characteristic of his early years. 
He himself describes a fight with a schoolmate as one of the 
hardest battles of his lite. He said recently : 

" 1 had rather fight in the ring than out of it any time. 
One of the hardest bouts I ever had in my life was when I 
was fourteen years of age. I was attending St. Ignatius' 
College at the time. There were two yards at this college, 
called the * big yard' and the 'little yard.' When 
pupils reached a certain degree of proficiency they were 



8 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

promoted from the little to the big yard. Dave Egan, my j\ 
chum, and myself had just been promoted and did not 
know many of the fellows over the fence. We chipped into 
their games just the same and soon got acquainted. At 
that time l Fatty ' Carney, a big, burly boy, was the recog- 
nized bully of the yard. He had an unpleasant habit of 
putting heads on people who looked cross-eyed at him. I 
had never made any name for myself as a fighting boy and 
did not want to. 

' i One day we were playing < prisoners' base. ' Carney 
was not in the game, but he took deliberate pains to run 
into my chum Egan. We had a few words and he got dead 
sore on me. i I'll tend to you after school,' said he. 

u After school was out one of my friends came to me 
and said, L Fatty Carney is laying for you outside and is 
going to lick you. ' I was terribly afraid at first and was 
going to run home ; but something stopped me. I don't 
know what it was — pride, maybe. Anyway I sallied out 
and found Carney waiting for me with his coat off 4 . I 
walked right up to him and asked what he wanted ' I'm 
goin' ter lick yer out of your boots, ' he replied. I hauled 
off my coat without a word and we went over to a vacant 
lot. 

L c I had no more idea of sparring than a hog has of 
Christmas. I had seen one fellow spar, however, and had 
noticed him looking at his opponent's stomach and hitting 
for his face. I did the same thing to Fatty and was over- 
joyed at the result. The longer we fought the more enthu- 
siastic I became. I was not angry ; I was simply delighted 
with the scrap. I had him almost pounded out, when there 
came a wild cry of police. Fatty sifted and I sifted in the 
same direction. We went up to another open lot and got 
at it again. I was getting the better of it when he started 
in on a rough and tumble. 

"He was bigger and stronger than I and he was 
rapidly doing me up when a man with a gold-headed cane 
interfered. He pulled Fatty off, stood us both up and said: 
' Now go at him and if he does not fight fair I'll warm him 
with this cane.' It was a long fight, but I licked him at 
last, and went home tired out. 

u The next day the president of the college called me up 




MIKE DONOVAN, CORBETT'S ADVISER, 




PROF. DONALDSON, 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 9 

before the throne and asked me where I got the bruised 
eye. i Me and Fatty Carney had a fight,' I replied. i Who 
licked ! ' he asked. I told him all about it and he fired us 
both out ot school. That fight gave me quite a reputation 
among my school-mates. 

"Afterwards I used to box in my father's stable. 
Every stable hand who came there for employment had to 
put on the gloves with me. There was one fellow around 
there called 'Forty ' Kenealy, who was a rather tough nut 
in the boxing line. One day Kenealy and I were present 
at an entertainment given by the Sullivan Cadets The 
president of the cadets seeing us both present got up and 
asked us for a bout. L Will you box ? ' asked Kenealy. ' Yes, 7 
I replied, i come on.' We got at it and a regular slugging 
match followed. He was a hard customer, and for a time 
it was about even up. Finally he swung out at me and I 
ducked. As I came up my head struck him in the chin 
and almost knocked him out. Everybody thought I had 
hit him with my fist, and Kenealy thought so himself. 
When they stopped us he was all but gone." 

Like his late antagonist, Corbett's first idea when he 
had passed his boyhood years was to become a professional 
baseball player. He played with the amateur nines around 
San Francisco and became quite proficient as a ball-tosser. 
He was bent on emulating Anson, Joe Start, John Morrill, 
Burdock and others who were the baseball heroes of the 
boys of those days. A position was offered him, however, 
in the Nevada National Bank, and in compliance with the 
earnest wishes of his mother and the very strongly ex- 
pressed sentiments of his father he dropped baseball and 
became an assistant bookkeeper in the bank, which position 
he held for several years. But to this day the champion 
is a great admirer of the national game and a personal 
friend of most of the prominent players. 

As soon as he was able to know and appreciate the 
benefits of gymnastic exercises, Jim joined the Olympic 
Athletic Club, of his native city, and quickly became pro- 
ficient. Particularly was he fond of boxing, and constant 
practice under Prof. Walter Watkins, whose principal idea 
of boxing is to counter rather than to ward off blows, soon 
made him the superior of any amateur heavy-weight who 



10 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

entered the tournaments of the club. He won the cham- 
pionship competitions at least half a dozen times before his 
eighteenth year. 

Every professional that came to San Francisco and 
visited the club-rooms Jim was anxious to put on the gloves 
with, and finding that he held his own with nearly all of 
them he determined to become a professional fighter. 



CHAPTER II. 

CORBETT BECOMES A FIGHTER. 

In 1884 he made his debut as a full-fledged knight of 
the knuckles. His first professional engagement was with 
Dave Eisemann, and Corbett disposed of him .very handily 
in two rounds. He next defeated Duncan McDonald, of 
Butte, Mont. , in four rounds. In regard to his meetings 
with Choynski, of San Francisco, Corbett says : 

1 l There has been much discussion relative to my meet- 
ings with Choynski. I'll tell you all about it. My brother 
and Choynski's were both employed in the City Hall. One 
day they became involved in an argument respecting our 
relative abilities. Up to this time I had never seen Choyn- 
ski. The result of this argument was that Choynski's 
brother brought him to my father's barn and I stopped him 
in one round. After that Choynski began to box with 
professionals. He also circulated the report that I could 
box, but could not fight. We made a match to fight in 
private in the old familiar barn on a Sunday. When the 
time came fully five thousand persons, who had received 
1 quiet ' tips on the event, were parading up and down in 
front of my father's house. The family were greatly dis- 
turbed and my father persuaded me not to fight. He gave 
me an awful talk. ' I'll go up and tell him I won't fight, ' 
said I. 

1 ' I went to Choynski's house and his brother came to 
the door. Before I had a chance to say anything he said : 
1 Oh, he'll be there quick enough. You need not be anxious.' 
This made me mad and I told him to trot out his brother 
and I would fight him anyway. 
"Clioynski came out and we talked ten miles over fcr 







JOE CHOYNSKI. 











JOE MCAULIFFE. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OE JAMES J. CORBETT. 11 

the sand hills and went at it with bare knuckles. I knocked 
him out in two rounds and then went over and punched his 
brother in the nose. The next time we fought was at the 
Olympic Club a year afterward. He had been blowing 
again about how he could lick me. On this occasion I 
knocked him out the very first pass I made at him. After 
lie got up I said : 'Now, I'll make the set-to a friendly one 
if you want it that way.' Pretty soon he got fresh, and I 
had to knock him out again." 

The last time these young men came together was on 
a barge on the Sacramento River. Choynski was seconded 
by that great ring general, Jack Dempsey, and made a 
game and determined stand against Corbett. The latter 
broke his hand on Joe, but won in twenty-seven rounds* 
Between his fights with Choynski, Jim filled in the chinks 
by fighting with and defeating a number of ambitious 
heavy-weights. Up to his fight with a man of tremendous 
strength and stature named Mike Brennan and known as 
the '-Port Costa Giant," whom Corbett easily defeated, 
despite the great difference in weight and height, many 
San Francisco sports had sneered at Jim's professional 
aspirations and predicted his early downfall. But when 
this mighty man of brawn went down before the gentle- 
manly young boxer many of the doubting Thomases began 
to change their tune and to think there might be something 
in the young Olympic Club athlete after all. 

Before Corbett entered his nineteenth year Jack Burke, 
the Irish lad, came to San Francisco. Burke had boxed 
with Sullivan, Mitchell and Dempsey, and was quite a 
pugilistic star. He and Corbett boxed eight rounds and 
the bout was declared a draw. This encouraged him and 
his friends greatly, as Burke was considered a foeman 
worthy of almost anybody's fists. 

Corbett defeated in rapid succession Capt. James Daly, 
in two rounds ; Frank Smith, of Salt Lake, in three ; 
George Atkinson, in two, and Frank Glover, the well-known 
Chicago heavy-weight, in two. Then came his last fight 
with Choynski on the barge 

He next met Joe McAuliffe, who was considered by 
many the coming heavy-weight champion. They met in a 
four-round contest for points and Corbett easily got the 



12 LIFE AND BATTLES' Otf JAMES J. COEBETT. 

decision. About this time Jim accepted an offer of a 
position as boxing instructor of the Olympic Club and con- 
lined himself closely to business, finding time, however, to 
do up a few more heavy-weights who thought him a soft 
mark. Prof. John Donaldson, who has since seconded Jim 
against Jackson and Sullivan, was one of these deluded in- 
dividuals and was easily defeated by Corbett. 

Prof. William Miller, now of Australia, was at on3 
time a prominent figure in athletics in New York. He was 
teacher of wrestling in the short-lived Police Athletic Club, 
and wrestled Bauer in the Graeco-Roman style all night 
long to a draw at Gilmore's Garden. The Professor 
arrived in San Francisco on his travels, went up before 
Corbett and met the usual fate. He was easily defeated in 
three rounds. This victory put Corbett's stock away up 
in his native city, and his admirers were now numbered 
by thousands. 

He went to Portland, Ore., and easily defeated Dave 
Campbell, of that city, who was considered a comer. Cor- 
bett's next fight was the one he considers the most impor- 
tant in his career. 



CHAPTER III. 

corbett's battle with kilrain. 

In February, 1890, hearing that Jake Kilrain was in 
New Orleans with Muldoon's combination of boxers Cor- 
bett went to that city and endeavored to get on a " go " 
with the Baltimorean. It was during his stay at New 
Orleans that he was visited by Phil Dwyer, the well-known 
turfman of Brooklyn, who had heard of the young Cali- 
fornian's prowess and admired him greatly. He intro- 
duced himself to Corbett, who said : u Mr. Dwyer I have 
heard of you ever since I can remember, and knowing what 
your standing is among sporting men I am obliged to you 
for coming to see me." Dwyer was much impressed by 
Corbett's gentlemanly demeanor and told him he would be 
glad to be of any assistance to him. He said to Corbett : 

"I suppose you are aware that you are going up 
against a pretty hard game with this man Kilrain," to 




JAKE KILRAIN. 







FRANK GLOYER. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 13 

which Jim replied : u I will beat him and beat him very- 
fast, I know what I can do and when you see us come to- 
gether you will be surprised." 

Corbett and Kilrain finally arranged to light a six- 
round glove contest for a purse of $3,500 before the 
Southern Athletic Club. They met Feb. 17, 1890. There 
was a big crowd present. 

Unusual interest was manifested in the affair, and at 
the pool rooms and at the club and sporting resorts there 
was brisk speculation on the result, Kilrain being the fav- 
orite at 2 to 1. 

The Southern Athletic Club had provided two other 
contests besides the Kilrain and Corbett match. One was 
between George Bezinah, of Covington, Ky., who killed 
James, at Dallas, Tex., and Charley Johnson of New 
Orleans, and Mike E. Smith, of Cincinnati, and Mike 
Cleary, of New York. These contests preceded the more 
important one and did not last long. In the Cleary and 
Smith battle the New York pugilist surprised the natives 
by knocking out his muscular opponent in the second round. 
Smith stopped a right hand cross-counter on the jaw which 
made him drop as if he was shot. Cleary was loudly 
cheered for the quick off-hand way in which he put the Cin- 
cinnati pugilist to sleep. 

The contest between Bezinah and Johnson lasted four 
rounds, and Bezinah won easily. 

After these contests the ring was cleared and everything 
was made ready for Corbett and Kilrain to fight. Corbett 
entered the ring weighing 183 pounds. Kilrain weighed 
201 pounds, six pounds less than when he knocked out 
Yacquelin. 

Kilrain had Muldoon and Cleary behind him, while 
Corbett was seconded by Tommy Danforth and Mike Smith, 
while George Scott was bottle holder. Muldoon introduced 
the men, and announced that Kilrain weighed 201 pounds. 
Corbett looked over at his burly rival and said incredulous- 
ly : "Then you can put me down for 170 pounds." 

E. R. Yiolet, the well-known cotton man and an en- 
thusiastic amateur sparrer, was selected by the Club as 
referee, and A. M. Hill and R. A. Fox, timers. Then. time 
was called without any more preliminaries and both"" men 



14 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

sprang lightly forward to the scratch, Corbett smiling as if 
eager for the fray. Both men sparred for an opening, 
watching each other's style, for it was the first time they 
had met. 

Corbett carried his left loosely, while his right held 
guard. 

The fight was a lively one until round 6, when Corbett 
led with his left and found Kilrain's head. The latter re- 
sponded with a blow in the breast and Corbett countered 
heavily on the stomach. Kilrain found Corbett's wind with 
his left and repeated the blows. Corbett meanwhile paid 
his attention to the Baltimorean's head and ribs, landing 
both blows. Kilrain then rushed for the ribs and neck and 
Corbett found his wind once more. 

Kilrain played for Corbett's stomach with his left, but 
the blow was a little slow and Corbett's left went out hard 
and straight and caught Kilrain on the nose. It was a 
hard rap and made the Champion wince. Kilrain rushed 
again and landed his lelt on the chest and his right on 
Corbett's neck, clinching again as time was called. 

The fight was over and the crowd was all one way. 
There were shouts of "Corbett! Corbett!" and Corbett 
was as happy as a schoolboy in his corner. Kilrain came 
forward and claimed that only five rounds had been fought, 
bat the tally showed six, and Referee Violet announced 
that, as the fight was to be decided on scientific points and 
not on strength of blow^s, he awarded the victory to Corbett. 
Corbett received an ovation and was almost carried to his 
dressing room by his admirers. 

Prior to Corbett's victory over Kilrain he was not known 
outside of the Pacific Slope, but the fact that he had de- 
feated Kilrain, who had fought Jem Smith, the Champion 
of England, a draw for $10,000 and the Police Gazette 
championship belt, fought John L. Sullivan seventy-five 
rounds according to London prize ring rules for $22,000, 
gave Corbett a world-wide reputation, and he was feted 
and banqueted. Many looked upon him as a rising pugi- 
listic star. 

Shortly after his victory over Kilrain Corbett came to 
New York. . He was the guest of Prof. Mike Donovan, the 
instructor in boxing of the New York Athletic Club. 







JOHNNY REAGAN. 




DOMINICK MCCAFFREY. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COKBETT. 15 

Donovan brought Corbett to the Police Gazette office 
where he was photographed, and a large portrait was 
published in that paper. Corbett was then introduced in 
the New York Athletic Club and his gentlemanly manners 
gained him a legion of friends. 

Corbett was then matched against Dominick McCaffrey, 
a pugilist who had fought John L. Sullivan and other 
noted ring men. 



CHAPTER IY. 

CORBETT'S BATTLE WITH MCCAFFREY. 

The encounter between Corbett and McCaffrey, for 
gate money, w r as brought off at the Casino, Brooklyn, N. Y., • 
on the evening of April 14, 1890. About 2,500 persons 
journeyed to witness the affair, and among the crowd were 
many well-known in the sporting, social and financial world. 
Among the crowd were Big John Quinn, Phil Dwyer, Matt 
Corbett, Jim Barclay, Jimmy Patterson, Prof. Mike Dono- 
van, Lon Ackerman, George Engeman. Charley Johnston 
and John Kelly, while the fistic brigade was well repre- 
sented. It w r as after 10 o'clock when the gladiators entered 
the arena. Corbett occupied the northwest corner, while 
McCaffrey made the south-eastern corner of the ring his 
headquarters. 

Neither was attended by seconds, nor were there 
official time-keepers or referee. The rounds were to be 
three minutes each and one minute rest between each, 
otherwise Police Gazette rules governed. The rules were 
not adhered to, however. If they had been Corbett would 
no doubt have ended the struggle in the third round. 

In the first round McCaffrey showed to advantage, but 
there w^as none of that quick dash and agility he used to 
display, and one of Corbett's straight left-handers on the 
mark twisted him like a rainbow. A few exchanges and a 
clinch, in which McCaffrey hung to Corbett like a barnacle 
to a ship's bottom, and time was called amid yells and 
hisses and shouts of "That is not three minutes ! " 

The second round was a repetition of the first. Cor- 
bett doing the smashing and McCaffrey doing the hugging. 



16 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COBBETT. 

It was plain to be seen that the California Wonder was the 
master of the situation, and could, by a straight left-hand 
blow followed by a right-hand cross-counter, have ended 
the contest, but, straige to say, he did not attempt to do 
so, but only banged McCaffrey whenever the latter stood 
up to him. McCaffrey tried to dodge, jostle and hang on 
to Corbett, and time was again called after the men had 
been been battling two minutes. The crowd, who had paid 
$1 and $2, now began to yell that the rounds were short, 
and, to appease the excitement, Johnny Reagan jumped on 
the stage to keep time. 

In the third round there was hardly any feinting as 
the men came to the centre. Corbett let go and caught 
McCaffrey a staggerer on the nose. Mac's counters failed 
to reach, and twice more the Californian's left fornix a rest- 
ing place. Mac's nose was trickling with blood, but he 
did not sail in. McCaffrey recovered and got in on Cor- 
bett's face lightly. Corbett settled down to his work and 
got decidedly the best of the long-range shots. Mac 
seemed to grow suddenly tired and weakened under Cor- 
bett's hammering. Mac landed on Corbett's nose with his 
left, but was heavily cross-countered and two more efforts 
of McCaffrey's to land were futile. The round ended in 
Mac's corner. 

As soon as they faced each other McCaffrey led with 
his left, but was severely countered. Corbett rushed his 
man to the ropes and tried upper-cutting, but McCaffrey 
clinched skilllully. Corbett broke away and got in both 
right and left he ivily, and McCaffrey was weakening last. 
Corbett banged McCaffrey into his corner and out of it, 
an. I then fought him to the ropes. Either from weakness 
or in attempting to avoid punishment, McCaffrey bent over 
the ropes. With an effort he turned his lace toward his 
opponent as though to look if anything more was coming, 
but Corbett had siepped back and thrown up his hands in 
an appeal to Steve O'Donnell to excuse him from doing any 
more dama e. Steve said he guessed that would do, and 
seriously declared that "Mr. Corbett had the beat of 
the bout." 

Corbett then returned to San Francisco, Cal., and after 
a brief rest he once more resumed his old position of boxing 




STEVE O'DONNELL. 




PETER JACKSON. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT . 11 

instructor in the Olympic Amateur Athletic Club. 

Corbett's ambition was to become champion of America 
and later in the summer of 1890 he issued a challenge to 
tight any man in the world for $5,000 a side. At this time 
Peter Jackson was about to return from Australia, and the 
California Athletic Club decided to bring about a match 
between Corbett and Jackson on the latter's return. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE CHAMPION'S BATTLE WITH PETER JACKSON. 

In 1890 Peter Jackson, the Black Demon, the greatest 
colored pugilist who ever stepped in a prize ring, was chal- 
lenged by Corbett to meet him in the orthodox twenty-four 
foot ring. The Black Demon picked up the gauntlet and 
the California Athletic Club offered a purse of $10,000 for 
Corbett and Jackson to fight for. 

The match, after it was arranged, created considerable 
interest in England, Australia and America, and owing to 
the fact that Jackson had quite a fistic record he was made 
a heavy favorite and thousands of dollars were wagered on 
the re-ult. 

5 The battle was decided on May 21 and 22, 1891. It 
was claimed that both men were in the "pink of condition V 
when they entered the ring and the friends of each were 
confident that their favorite would punch his way to vic- 
tory. The gladiators were cautious and apparently afraid 
that the other might obtain an advantage. Yery little hard 
hitting was done at the start, Corbett clinching on every 
occasion to avoid punishment, it would appear. A great 
deal of science was displayed, and Jackson succeeded in 
drawing first blood. Toward the close the men fought 
more viciously, and the Californian landed some powerful 
blows upon his opponent's body and head. They would 
have knocked out an ordinary man, but the negro seemed 
to be made of tough material. It was anybody's fight to 
the last. Both men were severely punished and completely 
exhausted. At the wind up of the sixty-first round they 
were physically unfit to continue, and the referee decided 
the battle a draw. 



18 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

The following arc the details of the battle : 

Peter Jackson's seconds were Sam Fitzpatrick, who 
has stood behind him in all his battles, and Billy Smith, 
Avith Billy Fields, who gave Jackson the use of his forge in 
training, as bottleholder. Corbett was served by John 
Donaldson and Billy Delaney, with his brother, Harry 
Corbett, as bottleholder. Hiram Cook, who has refereed 
all the big tights at the club, acted as referee. 

Alter two preliminary scraps the main event was 
called. Both men appeared shortly before 9 o'clock. 
Jackson weighed 197 pounds and Corbett 185. The bet- 
ting just before the men entered the ring was 2 to 1 on 
Jackson. It had been 10 to 6 all the afternoon. 

The following is a description of the light by rounds : 

Round 1 — On the gong sounding both men promptly 
walked to the centre, exchanged the usual hand-shaking 
formalities and the fight began. There was considerable 
sparring, when Jackson tried that old left-hand body jab 
and failed to get in, but Corbett was most uncomfortably 
awkward in getting away. This gauged his speed, and, as 
though acknowledging his weakness, he clinched the next 
moment. Two lovers never hugged so closely. Jackson 
tried hard enough to get away, but Corbett wouldn't have 
it. Hiram Cook, the referee, stepped in and separated 
them. Corbett made a left swing, failed to get in, and 
Jackson hit him hard with a straight right-hander under 
the heart. 

Round 2 — At the opening of mis round Corbett jumped 
to the centre, but it was plain to see his heart was not in 
the jump, so he jumped away again, the Australian follow- 
ing him like a cat. A clinch followed, but both hugged, 
and no harm was done. Jackson, after the breakaway, 
pursued the Californian about the ring and Corbett, turn- 
ing, engaged him at close quarters. It was another hug- 
ging match, and in the breakaway Corbett tried a vicious 
left swing which barely missed Jackson's jaw. Corbett 
landed two or three light ones on the body before the call 
of time. 

Round 3 — Jackson landed his right on Corbett's heart. 
Corbett's left was in working order; however, and Jackson 
retreated before a heavy blow. Corbett followed the re- 




JACKSON RUSHES. 




CORBETT LANDS ON JACKSON'S JAW. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 19 

treating, steps of his opponent, who, when the opportunity 
showed itself, paid absolutely no attention to the dusky 
man's head, but went diligently to work on his wind. If 
there is anything Jackson seems to hate to have interfered 
with it is his stomach, and while stretching out his length 
to injudicious counters he threw his body back out of all 
danger. Corbett's hugging tactics were not greeted with 
any marked degree of appreciation by the audience, but in 
the wind-up of the round his clever ducking from straight 
left-hand jabs gained him much applause. 

Round 4 — This was a well contested round, so far as 
sparring was concerned, but little damage was done on 
either side. Toward the end Corbett landed three good 
hot ones on the negro's jaw with his left hand, and then, 
seeming to gain confidence, followed his man and shot in a 
few more straight-arm lefts on Jackson's body and jaw. 
The spectators went wild at this slight change in favor of 
the white man, but Jackson kept on smiling that wicked 
smile. 

Round 5 — Jackson assumed the aggressive at the 
opening and there was a clinch immediately after the 
negro's lea i. -At the break Corbett found it necessary to 
seek refuge at a distance, Jackson giving him a blow over 
the heart. Jackson's good-natured face was wide open 
with a grin, which belied a horrible straight right he de- 
livered the next minute. Corbett seemed to be the receiver 
generally up to this point of the affray, which was begin- 
ning to look anything else but like the great scientific set- 
"to that was expected. 

Round 6 — Jackson at once assumed the aggressive, 
however, and kept following Corbett around the ring 
Corbett kept out of harm's way cleverly enough, though, 
and occasionally parried things by turning and poking his 
left at Jackson's wind. As the bell struck Corbett got in a 
good left-hand swing on the Australian's jaw. In the 
interim between the sixth and seventh rounds the lump of 
ice rubbed on Jackson's head diminished half its size. 
There was a speck of blood, too, on his breeches, but not 
enough to be traced to either. 

Round 7 — In this round there was no damage done on 
either side, but Jackson was nearly blinded by the perspir- 



20 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COBBETT. 

ation that was falling off his receding brow. * 

Round 8 — Both delayed careful tactics during half of 
this round, and then suddenly showed bursts of speed. A 
hot rally in the centre of the ring followed, in which Corbett 
evened things up. Jackson nearly jerked his arm out try- 
ing to reach him with his left and later landed another blow 
on Corbett's jaw. A clinch followed and the round ended. 

Round 9 — This round opened viciously enough, as 
though each man thought the other personally responsible 
for the apparently short space of time in which he was 
allowed to rest. Corbett got away again most cleverly 
from Jackson's threatening left jab, and after a clinch and 
a little in-fighting they broke away seemingly unharmed. 
Hardly had a second passed before Corbett's left-arm swing 
came as suddenly and unexpectedly as possible, finding 
Jackson's jaw unprotected. It was a terrible smash, under 
which the Australian quailed more than under any other 
blow he has ever received before an American audience. 
The round closed before much could be done. 

Round 10 — Corbett led first, and Jackson returned the 
compliment by half a dozen nasty short-arm jabs in the 
wind. After a breakaway Jackson sent several right and 
left swings at Corbett's head, but the latter cleverly ducked 
away, saving his jaw and earning cheers from the specta- 
tors. Jackson visite.l the Californian's stomach good and 
hard just at the call of time. 

Round H — Corbett, after a feint, got in his favorite 
swing on Jackson's wind, and the shouting was ear-splitting. 
This was cut short in the next pass, and Jackson's ugly 
left did some execution, under which Corbett winced. Jn 
this round more than any other 30 far Corbett showed he 
really was a clever sparrer, repeatedly, like an active cata- 
mount, escaping Jackson's left. Corbett's head was either 
to the right or left of Jackson's fist each time, while his 
hands were busily engaged playing a tattoo on Jackson's 
ribs. 

Round 12 — Jackson managed to land his left on Cor- 
bett's jaw, which must have severely jostled his anatomy 
for some moments. Corbett got savage on Jackson's wind 
and honors were again nearly equal. Fierce exchanges 
with no harm done ended the round. 




PAT DUFFY. 







WALTER WATSON. 



LIEE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 21 

ROUND 13— This was a desperate round and was made 
up with the most offensive punches of the evening, except 
in the last thirty seconds, during which Jackson followed 
his man up along the ropes from corner to corner, occasion* 
ally reminding him of the trouble he was in with left- 
handers. 

Round 14— The Australian was on the aggressive , but 
he washed fully as much force in pursuing Corbett as the 
latter did in escaping his vicious onslaughts. He got one 
good one on Corbett's heart, though lie received only a 
light return for it Corbett landed on the jaw, but the 
visitation was without force, owing to weakness, wh ch 
was becoming apparent in both men. It was seen that 
both were certainly masters as near as count be of the 
manly art of self defence, if not of the other's destruction. 

Round 15 — Both pugilists showed how careful each 
wad of the other's welfare by stopping, ha els down, while 
Corbett turned his back to Jackson and kicked out of the 
ring a cork that had fallen from a soda water bottle. 

Round 16 was wasted in liddling away at a safe dis- 
tance. Then Corbett shot out his left, getting a good one 
on Jackson's wind. He get in a good right-hander the 
next minute, which landed with terrific force on Jackson's 
jaw. The crowd yelled and Corbett, taking new heart, 
crowded Jackson into his corner and smashed him right 
and left. Peter seemed a little groggy as I e walked to his 
corner. 

Round IT — Jackson was as fresh as a daisy, but Cor- 
bett was in just as good fettle. Sharp exchanges and 
short-arm blows left both blowing. They rallied nicely in 
a little while and Corbett's left did magnificent execution. 
His favorite double blow — first to the wind and then to the 
jaw — successfully illustrated Jackson's discomfiture. 

Round 18 — In the beginning of this round, however, 
Jackson was himself again and thumping at the white man's 
heart. To look at both men in this battle no one would 
ever dream that odds in betting could have been thought 
of before the contest. Jackson sought to regain his lost 
prestige in this round, but Corbeot stopped all his leads 
with surprising cleverness and countered him once or twice 
on the head and over the heart. His blows seemed to lack 



Ltf e AisfD Battles op james j. coeBetT. 



steam, however, and did little damage. At the end of the 
round Corbett dealt Jackson one of the heaviest blows of 
the fight, a left hand swinging smash square on the mouth. 
Jackson was a shade wobbly at the call of time, but Cor- 
bett's efforts had told on him also, and it was still any- 
body's fight. 

Round 19 — Jackson, as usual, was on the aggressive, 
making his man back around the ring, but doing enough 
execution in the slapping line to prevent the Australian 
from taking too many privileges with his vulnerable points. 
The round closed with honors about, evenly distributed. 

Round 20 — This was Jackson's round. He followed 
his man viciously, giving him no time to recover. Corbett 
got in a few good stops, but Jackson kept at work jabbing 
his left into Corbett's heart. Finally the Californian lad 
seemed tired of this treatment, and turning on Jackson 
lought him across the ring into his corner and punched him 
har< 1 with both hands. Jackson escaped from chancery, and 
a hard and even exchange followed. Jackson was taking 
slightly the best of it when the gong struck. 

Round 21 — Corbett had somewhat the best of it until 
in closing, Jackson's left elbow caromed against Corbett's 
neck. It was a staggerer and Jackson had his man going 
for a second or two. The rebound off the ropes brought 
Corbett back from an awkward position to a clinch, and 
the most disastrous round of the fight for him to date ended. 

Round 22 — In this round Jackson continued the ag- 
gressor, and Corbett had all he could do to avoid his awful 
swings and dangerous jabs. It became a sort of pedestrian 
match around the ring, Corbett making backward and the 
Australian crowding him to the last limit. 

Round 23 — This was virtually a repetition of the pre- 
vious one, Corbett acting as receiver-general and doing the 
backward pedestrian act. He looked very tired and Jack- 
son never seemed as eager and capable; The only showing, 
however, that amounted to anything was interrupted by the 
clanging of the gong. 

Round 24 — Jackson caught the runaway once in this 
round and sent a hot shot into his heart region. Corbett 
kept out of the way after this. As surely as water dripping 
wears out a rock so surely did Jackson seem to be tiring 







BUD RENAUD, 




I 



J!?' 1 W life. 

,0. X^' ■■■'-^' 




pyNCAN MCDONALD. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 23 

Corbett into a loser. Corbett's activity of the former 
rounds had departed and his heart, as far as outside ap- 
pearances could be judged, had gone with it. There was 
no fighting, but it was not the Australian's fault, Corbett 
• refusing battle. Jackson in his usually careful style left 
well enough alone, and, barring his close watch on Corbett, 
he did not do very much more to weary him, which might 
involve taking chances. 

Round 25 — There was little fLhting done and both 
men showed heavy punishment. 

Round 26 — Neither did anything remarkable, but Jack- 
son tried time and again. 

Round 27 — Jackson forced the fighting and Corbett 
fought on the defensive until he managed to get in a left 
swing, which jarred Jackson's bowels, and Jackson's left 
touched up Corbett's forehead with telling effect. 

A series of clinches characterized the opening of xhe 
twenty-eighth round, and in one of the breakaways Jackson 
dealt Corbett a fearful blow over the heart. Corbett got 
back with a right swing on Jackson's jaw, and a terrific 
fight ensued. It was stand up and give and take ; it was 
a smashing match, and these two cleverest men in the ring 
to-day seemed for a time to forget their cunning. Science 
was left out oi the question and the men banged each other 
might and main, each trying to get in a knock-out blow. 
Both were very groggy at the call of time. 

When they toed the scratch for the thirty-second round 
they sparred fur wind. Jackson got his first, and again 
assumed the aggressive. His leads were wild and easily 
avoided by his wily antagonist. 

There was a sharp rally at the opening of the forty- 
first round, Corbett coming out second best in the exchange. 
Jackson evidently had held himself in reserve for a strong 
rib-roaster which brought Corbett to clinching tactics to 
save further punishment. At the end of the round in a 
clinch Ccrbett's knees seemed to weaken under him while 
he hung to Jackson's neck. Jackson, although far from 
fresh, looked much stronger than his opponent. 

In the fiftieth round Corbett was plainly the weaker, 
Jackson was strong and confident, but his leg, injured in a 
recent accident, gave him considerable trouble. 



24 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

In the fifty-first round both men were completely used 
up, and Jackson appeared to limp on. the leg he sprained 
when thrown out of a chaise. Corbett's hands were swelled 
to twice their natural size, and both showed the marks of 
each other's handiwork. 

In the fifty-fifth round Corbett landed his damaged left 
under Jackson's right eye, but the blow would not have 
dented a pincushion. Jackson countered with both hands 
and fought Corbett to the ropes, when the latter clinched 
and the round ended. * 

In the fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh rounds Jackson 
showed that he was the strongest, but little fighting was 
done, owing to the California Wonder being on the defen- 
sive. 

In the fifty-eighth round it was evident Jackson would 
win, provided he had the stamina. Corbett's hands were 
gone by constantly coming in contact with Jackson's cocoa- 
nut, and he could not^do Jackson any damage. Few blows 
were struck in this round or in the fifty-ninth. 

In the sixtieth round when the pugilists faced each 
other, Hiram Cook stated both must fight and end the bat- 
tle if they expected to win the $10,000. Jackson, general 
like, was waiting for Corbett to lead so that he would 
counter him, but Corbett had lost all steam and he knew 
he could not hurt Jackson even if he tried, owing to his 
hands giving him so much pain. No blows were struck 
although Jackson was on the qui vive for Corbett to lead. 

The sixty -first round ended the contest. After the men 
faced each other Corbett's friends, who knew they had no 
chance to land their money, shouted make it a draw, and 
Corbett looked anxiously at the referee, trusting he would 
do so. When Jackson would advance Corbett would re- 
treat, and- these tactics were kept up until the gong 
sounded. 

Hiram Cook, the referee, stepped to the centre of the 
ring, and declared that it was apparent that the men could 
not go on to a satisfactory finish, and, under the circum- 
stances, he would declare it "No contest." Unless the 
directors of the club choose to give the men something, 
under the articles they signed they cannot demand a cent of 
the $10, 000. They signed to fight to a finish ; and didn't do it, 




PAYE CAMPBELL, 




JACK ASHTON, 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 25 

Three lusty cheers were given for Corbett and three 
for Jackson, ami the crowd filed out, but not satisfied with 
the ending by any means. 

The battle lasted 4 hours and 3 minutes, according to 
Police, Gazette rules, each round lasting three minutes, 
not including 1 minute rest. 

The purse was not divided, but the Club retained 
$5,000 giving the other $5,000 in equal parts to the boxers. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE CORBETT AND SULLIVAN BATTLE ARRANGED. 

After his battle with Jackson, Corbett returned to 
New York under the management of Wm. A. Brady, the 
popular, shrewd, energetic theatrical manager, appearing 
in the "Dark Secret." 

On Charley Mitchell arriving in New York from 
England, Corbett challenged him and a match was arranged 
for the rival boxers to engage in a six-round glove contest, 
but the affair fell through. 

Corbett having failed to induce any foreign champion 
to fight him, issued a challenge to fight John L. Sullivan, 
the champion pugilist of the world, for $10,000 a side, and 
the championship. 

On February 10, ?892, William A. Brady, Corbett's 
manager, deposited $1,000 to bind a match with Sullivan. 
This was telegraphed to Sullivan, who requested his back- 
ers, Charles Johnston, of Brooklyn, and James Wakely. of 
New Yorkj to cover Cqrbett's pioney ? 



26 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COKBETT. 

On March 10 Wakely called at the World office and 
deposited $2,500 with the sporting editor in behalf of 
Sullivan. Both Corbett and Brady were out of the city, 
but agreed to meet Wakely at the World office, and post 
the balance of the $2,500 and sign articles of agreement. 

This important proposed fistic encounter was arranged 
in the New York World office on March 15, 1892. The 
announcement that the match would be made attracted 
quite a gathering of sports, viz. : John McDonough, Phil 
Lynch, John Kelly, of baseball fame; John C. Humphrey, 
of Oakland, Cal. ; Bob Smith, Billy Madden, J. C. Kennedy 
and James Wakely, who has made his name famous as a 
betting man and a plunger. The Police Gtazette was 
represented by William E. Harding. John L. Sullivan was 
not present, but James Wakely attended to the matter and 
posted the $2,500 for the champion. 

Corbett and his manager, W. A. Brady, were first on 
hand. Brady pulled down the $1,000 check that he had 
deposited a week before, and supplanted it with $2,500 in 
bills. As he did so, he remarked: "It was no trouble to 
raise this money. I could have got $10,000 as easily as 
this, if it had been necessary. There are men, members of 
high-standing clubs, right in this city, who will put up al- 
most any amount on Corbett. I cannot use their names, as 
they have asked me not to; but when it comes to money we 
shall have all we want. I might say, also, that I have a 
slice of this thing myself." 

Jim Wakely came along about half an hour later, and 
there was no time lost in opening proceedings. The first 




JOHN L. SULLIVAN, EX-CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. 




CHARLIE JOHNSTON, SULLIVAN'S BACKER. 



LlPE A&D fiAttLES Of J AMES J. CO&BETT. 27 

question was as to a final stakeholder. Wakely said Phil 
Dwyer was good enough for him, but here Corbett made a 
manly objection. 

"Mr. Dwyer would suit me in everything, and I should 
be glad to accept him, were it not for one consideration. 
He is my personal friend and has offered to back me. That 
he would put his money on me I know, and for that reason 
I cannot consent to have him as the final stakeholder, if 
it should happen that some question or other arises about 
the payment of the stakes and I should get them, everybody 
would say that Dwyer was prejudiced. I don't want this 
match to be wound up with any such feeling. I want the 
money to go where it belongs, without question, and I want 
to avoid, right now, the possibility of a question. There- 
fore, I object to Mr. Dwyer." 

"How would Al Smith do ? " asked Brady. 

•'Sullivan has no use for Al Smith," responded Wakely. 

It is a public fact that Al Smith is not over friendly 
toward the big fellow, and Wakely's opposition was but to 
be expected. 

The name of Ed. Kearney of New York came up, but Cor- 
bett did not know enough about that sporting man to 
accept him, and it was finally agreed to select only a 
temporary stakeholder, just then, and a final holder when 
the next deposit would be made on June 1. George N. 
Dickinson was accepted as temporary stakeholder of the 
$5,000 meantime. 

The next subject was the time of fighting and the battle 
ground. Corbett conceded to the demand of the other side 



4 28 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES 3. COBBETl\ 

to have the fight during the first week in September. As 
to place, both liked New Orleans, and both agreed to give 
the Olympic Club of that city the preference, provided they 
could secure a $25,000 purse. If the Olympic Club would 
not hang up $25,000, then the organization that would 
offer the most money would get the fight. These details 
having been made all right all around, articles were drawn 
up and signed as follows : 

These articles of agreement are to govern a glove con- 
test to a finish between John L. Sullivan, champion of the 
world, and James J. Corbett, of California. 

First — The match is to decide the heavy weight cham- 
pionship of the world, a stake of twenty thousand dollars 
($20,000), and a purse of twenty-five thousand dollars 
($25,000). 

Second— The contest shall take place before the Olym- 
pic club of New Orleans, La., on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1892. 
In case the said Olympic Club refuses to give a purse of 
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), the contest shall 
take place before a club to be mutually agreed upon by the 
signers of these articles. 

Third — The contest shall be under Marquis of Queens- 
berry rules, the gloves shall be the smallest the dub will 
allow, and other details of the contest itself shall be left to 
the decision of the Olympic Club or the club before which 
the contest shall take place. The club selected shall name 
the referee. 










PHIL. CASEY, 




BAT MASTERSON. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 29 

Fourth— The sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) 
has been deposited by each party. It is agreed that the 
remainder of the stake of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) a 
side shall be deposited on the days named here — June 1, 
$2,500 ; July 10, $2,500 ; August 25, $2,500, 

Fifth — The final stakeholder shall be agreed upon on 
the date of the second deposit. June 1. 

Sixth— Should either party fail to comply with these 
articles, the money then in the hands of the temporary 
stakeholder shall be forfeited to the party which shall have 
fulfilled its obligations according to this paper. 

J. C. Kennedy, James Wakely, 

Witness for Corbett. For John L. Sullivan. 

John McDonough, James J. Corbett. 

Witness for Sullivan. 

After the match was arranged, President Charles Noel 
of the Olympic Club was asked how big a purse he would 
give and the following reply was received : 

New Orleans, La., March 15. m 
To the Sporting Editor of the World : 

Will give $25,000 for Corbett. Will mail articles to- 
morrow. Chas. Noel. 

Sullivan selected Phil Casey, the champion hand-ball 
player, as his trainer, and he took up his quarters at Canoe 
Place Inn, Good Ground, L. I. Jack Ashton also assisted in 
training the champion. Sullivan weighed 230 pounds when 



30 LIFE AND BATTLE^ Ofr JAMES J. COKBETT. 

he began to train, and by constant work he reduced his 
weight to 210 pounds. Phil Casey was assisted toward the 
middle of Sullivan's sojourn at Good Ground, by Mike 
Cleary, who helped Sullivan to train for his fight with Jake 
Kilrain. 

Corbett, a few weeks after the match was ratified, went 
into training at Deal Lake, near Asbury Park, N. J., under 
the management of Wm. A. Brady and Billy Delaney, well 
known both in New York and on the Pacific Slope as a star 
trainer, assisted by Jim Daly,, of Philadelphia, the champion 
heavy-weight pugilist of Pennsylvania. 



CHAPTER VIL 

THE GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN CORBETT AND SULLTVAN. 

The fight was decided in the Olympic Club, New 
Orleans, La., on Sept. 7, 1892. About 10,000 spectators 
witnessed it. Betting was 4 to 1 on Sullivan, 3 to 1 against 
Corbett. 

The following is the fight by rounds : 

Round 1 — Both men were smiling. Sullivan rushed in, 
but missed a left-hand lead, Corbett dancing. Corbett 
parried a thrust and danced away again. His activity was 
remarkable, and the first minute was spent in sparring. 
The crowd began to hiss Corbett, and he continued his 
running tactics until half the round was over. Sullivan's 




THE OLYMPIC ATHLETIC CLUB BUILDING, NEW ORLEANS, LA, 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COKBETT. 31 

face was dark as midnight, and he seemed angry as the bell 
rang. Not a blow was struck during the round. 

Round 2 — The men sparred at long range for almost a 
minute, Corbett dodging away every time the champion 
tried to force matters. He ducked a left-hand lead cleverly, 
but the big fellow rushed him to the ropes and caught him. 
Fierce fighting followed. Sullivan landed twice on Cor- 
bett's face, followed by an upper cut. Then Jim was even 
wilder than ever, flying about the arena like a hunted deer. 
Sullivan watched his chance and got in a left-hand swing, 
but it did not land with full force, Corbett getting back with 
a light punch in the belly. 

Round 3 — Sullivan missed an excellent chance, and 
bit his lips reproachfully. Corbett danced away from a 
right-hand lead at his stomach, and it was evident that he 
was going to make a long fight of it. John rushed in and 
landed lightly on the back, but it was only a glancing blow. 
Jim came nearer and got in a rib roaster on Sullivan's 
heart. Sullivan's return was short and did no damage. 
Corbett landed two left-hand swings on the champion's jaw, 
and for the first time in the fight did some work. This 
maddened Sullivan, who came on and got in twice on the 
stomach and neck without receiving a return, Corbett was 
astonishing the talent. 

Round 4 — The champion seemed much worried that 
his blows did not land, and he looked serious. Corbett's 
agility was remarkable. He seemed to escape Sullivan's 
leads with the greatest ease, but he did no work himself, 



32 LIFE AND BAT TLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

and it was evident that he was playing a waiting game. 
His gymnastics amused the assemblage for a time. They 
began hissing him and cried, "Fight, fight like a man." 
Sullivan's leads were wild and Corbett landed lightly on the 
neck, the champion paying no attention to the blow. As 
the hissing began again Corbett came in and exchanged 
blows, but nothing came of it. As the fight progressed, it 
was painful to Sullivan's admirers to admit that he was not 
the champion of old, being very slow. 

Round 5 — Sullivan landed on Corbett's chest and got a 
counter on the neck. Corbett landed a terrific left-hand 
punch on the belly and followed it up with another. Then 
he attacked the champion savagely. Blood flew from Sul- 
livan's eyes and nose in streams. Sullivan hugged Corbett 
to save himself, and Corbett pushed him away. Both men 
were bathed in Sullivan's blood. , 

Round 6 — Corbett went at his man instantly, but a 
punch in the ribs stopped him, and some sparring ensued. 
Sullivan was weak and his face was a sight. Corbett came 
in and landed with the left on the stomach. In a clinch 
blows were exchanged, but no damage done. Both 
countered on the jaw and Sullivan ended it with a right- 
hand swing that would have ended the fight had it landed. 
Corbett's quickness was marvellous, and he landed his left 
on the broken nose at the call of time. 

Bound 1 — Sullivan was strong when time was called, 
and walked briskly to the centre. Jim then got home a 
straight left on the big fellow's belly, and coming nearer 




CAPT, BABBETT, OF NEW OBLEANS. 




SULLIYAN RUSHES. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 33 

got three in quick succession on mouth and chin. Corbett 
then jabbed his left into the champion's face and the aud- 
ience showed their appreciation by cheering. He landed a 
right-hander on the jaw. Then he rushed Sullivan to the 
ropes and fought him to a standstill. 

Round 8 — Sullivan attempted to force matters, landing 
his right heavily. Young Jim did not like this and banged 
the big fellow on the jaw and followed it up with another 
blow on the nose, getting a good stiff punch over the heart 
in return. Jim then punched his man twice in the ribs and 
got home a terrific right-hand smash on the jaw. Sullivan 
was weary when time was called. 

Round 9-— Sullivan's blows were short and harmless. 
Finally he hit Corbett on the ear, the blow sounding 
throughout the building. An exchange of blows followed, 
Sully putting his right on Corbett's ear once more. Both 
men clinched and the crowd shouted foul. Corbett put his 
left lightly on the big fellow's cheek and landed three more 
blows as the round ended. 

Round 10 — The men sparred warily. Sullivan put 
his left on Ccrbett's ear with force, and ducked a return in 
quite his old style. A strong exchange followed with 
honors even. Sullivan improving, he caught Corbett on 
the right eye, reddening the skin and making Jim knit his 
brows. Corbett had all the best of an exchange that fol- 
lowed, landing twice on the jaw. 

Round 11 — Sparring was followed by hot work, Corbett 
doing the most damage. Protracted sparring ensued. 



34 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMJi» o. wb^ix. 






The young man rushed in and had the best of a volley on 
the ropes. He followed it up with another smash on Sully's 
nose, dancing away each time out of harm's way. 

Round 12 — Corbett rained blow after blow on Sulli- 
van's stomach, and Sullivan in attempting to escape let his 
guard down and received two blows on the neck and jaw. 
These were followed by punches in the abdomen. He 
played for the jaw, but missed twice and waited for an 
opening. He landed a terrific right-hander under Sulli- 
van's chin, which, had it been delivered on the point of the 
jaw, would have ended the fight. 

Round 13 — Corbett ducked away every time Sullivan 
attempted to lead. Not a blow was struck until near the 
end of the round, when Corbett put his left on the big 
fellow's jaw, springing away out of danger. 

Round 14 — A sharp exchange began the battle, both 
landing on the jaw, and then the big fellow smashed Cor- 
bett on the cheek with his left. It made no impression on 
Corbett's hard face, and Jim squared matters with two 
punches on the mouth and chin. A sharp counter followed, 
both men landing with great fierceness. Corbett jabbed 
Sullivan on the nose and had the best of the rally that fol- 
lowed, his blow having more steam than Sullivan's. 

Round 15 — Each got home on the neck and jaw, and 
they mixed it up in lively style, Corbett doing the better 
work. The big fellow clinched his teeth in a vicious fashion. 
Corbett got home on the stomach and got away unhurt. 




CORBETT LANDS ON THE STOMACH, 




THEY MIXED IT UP IN LIVELY STYLE. 



LIFE AND BATTLES Otf JAMJES J. CORBET. 36 

Sullivan's blows were weak. Corbett's full-arm swings had 
a world of force. 

Round 16 — John attempted to rush in, but was met by 
a straight left-hander in the mouth. Sullivan's breathing 
was labored, and could be heard plainly by persons twenty- 
feet from the ring. Corbett punched the big fellow on the 
mouth and jabbed his left into the big man's stomach re- 
peatedly, escaping punishment with ease. They clinched, 
and Corbett hugged his man while the crowd yelled "foul." 
Corbett raised his hands deprecatingly as he broke away. 

Round 17 — There was very little fighting in this round, 
neither man landing a blow worthy of record. The time 
was taken up in sparring, and the round was the tamest of 
the fight. 

Round 18 — Jim jabbed John twice in the short ribs 
when the big fellow atttempted to come in at the opening 
of the round. Sullivan's nose had stopped bleeding, and 
his face was much more sightly than half an hour before. 
His mouth was open, for he breathed heavily. John 
smashed Jim twice on the ear, but the young gladiator 
responded with two blows on the jaw that were scorchers. 
Corbett's next blow, a right-hander on the jaw, was a dan- 
gerous cne, and he followed it with three more of the same 
kind, and Sullivan's chances waned rapidly. 

Round 19 — Corbett's cleverness in tapping Sullivan 
and getting away was greatly admired up to this time, and 
when lie jabbed the big fellow four times on the face in suc- 
cession the spectators raised a howl. Sullivan here got in 



36 Life and battles of james j. o 

his left on Corbett's breast, but it did not hi br- 

bett touched John L. up for two right-hande: ly, 

amid more howls. The people seemed to be „ ^u corbett. 

Round 20 — Corbett fought his man to the ropes, using 
his left and right on stomach and jaw. He punished the 
big man repeatedly in his wind, and it seemed to be all day 
with Sullivan, who carried his right hand as though it had 
been injured. Jim jabbed the big fellow in the stomach 
again and then came in, getting home on the ear and ribs 
with great force. Corbett had a marked advantage when 
time was called amid deafening cheers. 

Round 21 — Corbett was out for blood and started to 
finish the man who had held the championship for so many 
years, and whose name was a terror to all. He rushed in 
and planted blow after blow on Sullivan's face and neck. 
The champion, so soon to lose his coveted title, backed 
away, trying to save himself. He lowered his guard from 
sheer exhaustion, and. catching a fearful smash on the jaw, 
reached to the ropes, and the blood poured down his face 
in torrents and made a crimson river across the broad 
chest. His eyes were glassy and it was a mournful act 
when the young Californian shot his right across the jaw 
and Sullivan fell like an ox. 

It was a game battle, but Sullivan was clearly out- 
fought. It was a triumph of youth, science and agility over 
age and physical power. 

Corbett forced the fighting from start to finish. He 
landed on Sullivan when and where he pleased. The ex- 




CORBETT LANDS ON SULLIYAN'S JAW. 




SULLIYAN LANDS HIS RIGHT. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OE JAMES J. CORBET*. 3? 

champion hit his opponent only five times altogether, and 
then with little force. Sullivan's nose was broken, his face 
and body bruised, and he was finally battered down, a 
bleeding mass of humanity, unable to rise at the call of 
time. Sullivan stood up against the greatest number of 
hard blows ever received in the ring, and showed himself 
to be the game man his friends knew him. Corbett was 
wholly uninjured, and was as fresh as ever at the finish. 
Sullivan had failed to land even one of his famous lunge 
blows. 

It was a great victory for the young Californian, who 
proved himself a marvel, and many an expert will admit 
that he made the greatest fight ever seen. 

After the battle crowds assembled to greet the new 
champion, and even the once great John L. Sullivan's ad- 
mirers cheered the tall, athletic, good looking, gentlemanly 
pugilist. When Corbett reached his hotel he gave the 
following graphic description of his victory : 

" I found Sullivan easier game than I anticipated, though 
I do not mean to infer by that that he is not a wonderful 
pugilist. He is by far the strongest man and the hardest 
hitter I ever encountered, but my quickness and skill en- 
tirely nonplussed him. I had the best of him all through. 
In the first place I won the toss for corners, and that 
annoyed him. Then I made him go into the ring first. He 
tried hard to make me do this, but I said : l No. He is 
the champion. He challenged me. I will follow him. 7 
And I did. He had to pass right by me and I was so cheer- 
ful and at ease that I could see he was wrathy. After we 



38 LIPE AND BAfTLES Otf JAMES J. CORBETT. 

got into the ring I stepped around, trying its elasticity and 
spring with my feet^ and that disconcerted him, for he 
thought I would be afraid of him. When we were called to 
the centre of the ring to receive our instructions from the 
referee we were told that when ordered to ' break' we 
should do so at once, and not attempt to strike each other 
until fairly apart. ' Do you mean,' I asked, ' that we must 
not hit going away? ' 

" < Yes,' replied Mr. Duffy. 

(l 'Then, suppose Sullivan hits me?' I queried. 

" * Then I will give the fight against Sullivan,' was the 
answer. Sullivan seemed impatient at the delay. I took 
hold of his hand cordially when told to shake hands, but he 
threw mine away disdainfully. 

11 In the first round I made no attempt to hit Sullivan, 
as I was only feeling him out. He led at me five times, but 
without avail. A few of his friends began to hiss, but I 
quieted them with a deprecatory wave of my hands. 

i l In the second round I began work, and I soon satis- 
fied Sullivan that I could hit him hard and often. I 
smashed his nose, and after the fifth round I said to my 
second, Billy Delaney, ' I can knock this fellow out now, ' 
but he begged me not to take any chances, but to bide my 
time. Sullivan glared at me constantly, but I only laughed 
at him. He called me a hard name in the eighth round, 
and I sailed in and smashed him right and left, body and 
face, until, I think, he wished he hadn't called it. 

"In one of our clinches Sullivan struck me, so the next 
time we came together I gave him a good thump in return. 




CORBETT WAS OUT FOR BLOOD. 




SULLIYAN'S CHANCES WANED KA£IDLY. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 39 

As we broke apart he exclaimed, deprecatingly, l Don't 
take any advantage of me!' I answered: c I don't have to, 
I have you licked now.' 

1 i 1 was so strong, so quick and so full of ginger all 
through the battle that I was surprised at myself. I never 
tired once, and, though men tell me that I fought faster 
than any one they ever saw, 1 could have kept up the pace 
for another hour with ease. 

"The gong saved Sullivan twice from being knocked 
out, but I did not think that the twenty-first round would 
end the battle when it was called. I got in three smashes 
on Sullivan's heart and face, and then his eyes turned up so 
that I could see nothing but their whites. Then I knew I 
had him, and I never gave him a chance to rally until he 
fell to the floor. I stepped back fully ten feet. I was 
perfectly cool and collected while he was beingxounted out. 
I was stepping forward to help him up when Billy Delaney, 
thinking I was excited and might hit him a foul blow, 
caught hold of me. I shook him off, saying : < I know what 
I am about. Don't worry about me. ' Then Professor Duffy- 
tapped me on the shoulder and pronounced me the winner. 
I jumped forward and helped to pick Sullivan up and place 
him on the chair. He was unconscious and a fearful sight. 
They say in New Orleans that Sullivan's was the worst 
knock-out that ever was seen in the Olympic ring." 

" I am surprised, " said Corbett, "that he should be so 
cast down by his defeat by me. I tell you that no one can 
whip Sullivan who is not as fast as I am. I am not so sure 
that he wouldn't whip Peter Jackson, for Peter's style would 



40 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. OORBETT. 

suit him a good deal better than mine. Peter would go 
and shy with him, and no man can do that with any hope 
of success. From what I hear of Joe Goddard's style, I 
think Sullivan would lick him in three rounds." 

Corbett claims a great deal of his success must be at- 
tributed to his trainer, Wm. P. Delaney, who has trained 
and seconded him in all his important matches. 

Delaney is a fine specimen of manhood, a pleasant con- 
versationalist and a jolly good trainer. Some of the men he 
has coached and trained are as follows : Young Mitchell, 
Tom Cleary, Jack Brady, Clarence Whistler, Herbert Slade, 
Mike Cleary, " Buffalo " Costello, Ed. Smith, Charley Tur- 
ner and George Hammil. 

Jim Corbett would trust Delaney when he would be 
doubtful about every other man on earth. During the 
great Jackson-Corbett match Delaney alone talked to Cor- 
bett, and not a word was mentioned at all until twenty 
rounds had been fought, and then Delaney, thinking danger 
was nigh, began to encourage his champion by saying : 
"Go cautiously, Jim, take your time, my boy; you have all 
night before you," etc. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

CORBETT'S RECEPTION IN NEW YORK. 

Corbett was tendered a grand reception and welcome 
at Madison Square Garden, New York, September 12, 
1892. Long before the doors were opened crowds filled 




WM. A. BRADY, CORBETT'S MANAGER. 




TRAINER DELANEY. 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 41 

the streets, and great enthusiasm prevailed. After the 
doors were opened there was a tremendous rush. 

The gathering was one of which Corbett could well be 
proud. There were the usual number of those intimately 
associated with the affairs of the squared circle, but .the 
largest portion of the gathering was composed of business 
and professional men, while society was also well /repre- 
sented. They were all there to take a look at the world's 
champion, and they drew a long breath of satisfaction, as 
they gazed on the young athlete's lithe figure. 

William A. Brady, Corbett's astute manager, mounted 
the platform. After the applause had subsided he started 
to make a few remarks to the spectators. He had not got 
past u Ladies and Gentlemen," when suddenly everybody 
in the Garden arose and united in a deafening yell that 
completely smothered Brady. The outburst was caused by 
the appearance of a tall young man in white trunks and 
green stockings, who, stripped to the waist, and with his 
pompadour-cut hair standing up straight and unruly, was 
making his way through the aisle leading from his dressing- 
room. It was Corbett, and he had come out before he had 
received the cue. 

When the champion stood up in the middle of the ring 
and looked around, the spectators threw up their hats, 
waved canes, yelled themselves black in the face, and 
otherwise exhibited their pleasure. Dainty handkerchiefs 
fluttered from the boxe's, while the more enthusiastic of 
those near the ring rushed to the ropes and tried to shake 
the champion's hand, Owing to the fact that his right 



42 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 

hand was bandaged up, which was the only visible indica- 
tion that he had been engaged in a desperate battle, he 
asked to be excused, and waved the injured member at his 
friends. 

Corbett sat down in his corner, and Jim Daly, who 
had entered behind the champion, also took a seat. Then 
Brady held up his hand, and finally the crowd became 
quiet, after which he said : 

"Ladies and Gentlemen: — I have in my hand a 
letter from John L. Sullivan, who for ten years, off and on, 
held the title of champion of the world. On the day follow- 
ing Mr. Sullivan's defeat the champion sent him a note 
offering to spar in this place on Saturday evening. Mr. 
Corbett has nothing but the kindliest feeling toward Mr. 
Sullivan, and no one recognizes more than the new cham- 
pion the sterling worth of the man whom he defeated. 
Mr. Corbett hopes that Mr. Sullivan's benefit will be a 
tremendous success. I will now read Mr. Sullivan's 
letter : 

u 'Mr. James J. Corbett, Coleman House, City: 

" 'In reply to your letter dated New Orleans, Sept. 8, 
1892, will say I accept your proposition to spar at the 
Madison Square Garden on Saturday evening, Sept. 17. 
Awaiting your reply. 

Respectfully, 

John L. Sullivan. '" 

When Sullivan's name was mentioned there was 
another outburst of enthusiasm only second to that which 







PEES. NOEL OF THE OLYMPIC CLUB. 




:.""..' 



VICE-PRES. SPORL OF THE OLYMPIC 



CLUB. 



LIFE AHD BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 43 

greeted Corbett's appearance, and the heartiness of the 
shouting showed that the big fellow is still a prime favorite 
with the people. 

When Brady got another chance to talk, he said : 

1 1 Mr. Corbett's reply is that he will be here next Sat- 
urday night and spar at Mr. Sullivan's benefit." 

Then there was more cheering, which was followed by 
cries of "Speech, Corbett, Speech!" When the champion 
heard that, he looked a trifle embarrassed, and scratched 
his right ear. Then he slowly arose and took a position in 
the centre of the ring. In a clear voice and natural 
manner he said : 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for your very 
kind reception, which I assure you I fully appreciate. I 
sincerely hope to see John L. Sullivan succeed in all his 
undertakings. I admire him very much, and will do all I 
can to assist him. I assure you I will do all I can to defend 
America in the matter of pugilism, and if I do one-half as 
well as John L. Sullivan has I shall be entirely satisfied." 

This neat speech deepened the good opinion of the 
spectators and provoked more cheers. As Corbett resumed 
his corner a handsome floral piece was handed to him. 

Then Brady introduced Mike Donovan, the friend and 
adviser of the champion, and the New York Athletic Club 
sparring instructor was heartily received. Billy Delaney, 
the man who trained Corbett for all his battles, next made 
his bow, and blushed at the thundrous applause. 

After that Brady said "time," and Corbett and Daly, 
who had put on gloves, faced each other. Corbett's right 



U Lit E AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COEBEtT* 

Was useless, but with his left and his expert feet he made 
matters very interesting for his sparring partner. His re- 
markable activity, shiftiness and science were all shown in 
the three short rounds he sparred, and then, to a parting 
cheer, the young champion left the ring and pushed his way 
through the crowd to his dressing room. 

A dense mass of people hung around the Twenty-sixth 
street exit until the pugilist came out to take a carriage to 
go to his hotel, and he received another ovation. 

^Since 1849 to the present time there have been many 
prize-ring champions of America, both foreign and native- 
born, but none of the famous fistic heroes ever had the oppor- 
tunity of battling for the premiership of pugilism and such 
large purses as have been offered of late years. Corbett 
has the name of fighting for the largest amount of money 
ever contended for in the prize ring and also the record for 
being the first pugilist who ever won the championship 
without being compelled to fight according to London 
prize-ring rules witfti bare knuckles. 

Every pugilist from the time Tom Hyer flourished as 
champion of America in 1849 up to 1892, when James J. 
Corbett succeeded to the title, fought with bare knuckles 
and according to London prize-ring rules. Corbett, how- 
ever, entered into a contract to fight for the championship 
with gloves according to Police Gazette rules, with John 
L. Sullivan, the champion. He won the contest and the 
championship of the world. 

He won his spurs by his courage and determination, 
and wonderful activity and science, clearly demonstrating 








W ? P, ftOSS, SECRETARY OLYMPIC CLUB. 




MBS, JAMES J. CORBETT, 



LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. CORBETT. 45 

that he was a skillful boxer, a good general, a first-class 
judge of distance, and possessed every qualification neces 
sar J V) reign as a pugilistic champion. 



CHAPTER IX. 

MRS. CORBETT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT HER HUSBAND. 

Before concluding this sketch I think it appropriate to 
add a chapter by Mrs. James J. Corbett, the young and 
beautiful wife of the champion. Mrs. Corbett has this to 
say about her husband : 

" My husband's name has been so often in the news- 
papers and so much has been talked about him, that all this 
fame he is now getting does not dazzle me as much as it 
might have done otherwise. I am sure it does not turn 
Jim's head in the least. Of course he is elated and so am I. 
I was sure he would win and did not have much anxiety 
about it until the night of the fight, and then I was a good 
deal excited until the first dispatches began to come in. 
When I saw how cool Jim was and was laughing every now 
and then, just as I knew he laughed when he was full of 
confidence, I had not a bit of uneasiness as to how the fight 
was coming out. 

11 There has been a good deal in the newspapers about 
what kind of a man Jim is — what his private character is, 
and so on — and some of the things I have read did not do 
him half justice, although I must say all that I have read 
was very kind. Only his father and mother and his broth- 
ers and sisters and I ; who have lived with him and seen 



U LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COBBETT. 

him every day in all his moods, can know what a gentle 
and loyal man to the very core he is. 

"He and I have been married since the 28th of June, 
1886, and during that time he has never been away from 
me longer than six weeks at a time, and from what I have 
noticed among other married people I do not believe many 
of them can say they have lived together that long and not 
had a cross word. Yet that is what I can say. I don't 
pretend to be a saint, but I don't believe any woman worthy 
of the name could ever be even pettish with such an even- 
tempered, gentle, considerate husband as mine has been to 
me. I spoke above about his moods. That does him an 
injustice. He does not have any moods. He is always just 
the same jolly, laughing, kind-hearted Jim. Everybody 
that knows him, even the little children out in San Fran- 
cisco, love him. They could not do otherwise. It used to 
make me laugh sometimes to see him carry on with the 
children out there at home. When we were first married 
and he was a clerk in the bank they used to wait for him 
around the house. They knew when he was due to come 
home just as well as I did, and they seemed to come from 
all quarters to be there, and they were of all sizes, from 
little tow-heads to great gawky boys. Jim used to play 
ball with them and have all sorts of games with them, and 
they looked on him as just one of them. Indeed, there is 
an awful lot of boy in Jim and I guess there always will be, 
and so I have told him time and time again. 

1 1 When he was at school he did have a good many 
fights, and got expelled for it more than once ? but it was 




PROF. JOHN H, DUFFY, REFEREE. 




JIM DALY, CQRBETT'S SPARRING PARTNER. 



life and Battles of James j. corbett. 47 

always with bigger boys who were abusing the little ones. 
He never was quarrelsome, either as a boy or a man ; but 
he never would stand it to see little chaps knocked about 
just because they were not big enough to resent it. He 
never had a single fight at school except for that one cause. 
He was always very devoted to his father and mother, and 
the saying that a good son makes a good husband holds 
good in his case anyway. Jim was brought up in the 
Catholic faith, and he is just as consistent in that as he is 
in everything else. It is his nature to be loyal and true- 
hearted, and I believe his faith in religion and the teach- 
ings he got in the Church had a good deal to do in making 
him so gentle and so fair always. Of course, he was born 
that way and it is his nature to have those qualities, but 
sometimes even persons who are by nature kind and gen- 
erous have those good qualities changed by associations and 
they need religious belief to keep them true, although Jim's 
associations were always good. At any rate he is just as 
religious and just as attentive to his duties now that he is a 
man as he was when he was a boy, and no matter what 
comes he will always remain that way. 

■"'I never went with Jim on but one of his trips, and 
then I only went part way. At the time of the Dempsey- 
Fitzsimmons fight in New Orleans a year ago last spring, 
Jim interrupted his trip to go down there and see it. Then 
I went to Mount Clemens, Mich., and waited for him, and 
when he joined me there I went on with him and finished 
the trip. 

u Of course I am glad he has made so much money, and 



48 LIFE AND BATTLES OF JAMES J. COBBETT. 

I know he will never squander it, for that is not his nature. 
When he was a boy and began to work he always brought 
his earnings home and gave them to his mother, and he has 
always kept up thrifty habits ever since. Yet James Cor- 
bett's bitterest enemy could not say that he had a mean 
hair in his head. He is liberal and generous, and a man 
can be all that without throwing his money away foolishly, 
and that is where Jim has always drawn the line. Surely 
no woman could wish for a husband more liberal to her than 
mine has been to me. 

"I think that Jim would rather live here in the East 
than in the West, and so for that matter would I. The 
place the papers tell about his buying down at Asbury Park 
is beautiful, quite out in the woods, with the lake right at 
the door, yet near to the railway station and to Asbury 
Park village. It is a lovely place to live in in the summer, 
but I do not think Jim would like it quite so well in the 
winter. I have seen it many times and always admired it, 
but I don't believe I either would like it so well in the 
winter. 

a I am proud of my husband — I am willing to admit 
that ; and any woman might well be proud of so good a one 
as he has been to me. I did not like his going prize-fight, 
ing at first, and neither did his father and mother, but now 
that he is in it, I am proud of his success and glad to know 
that the success will never turn his head or make him a 
whit different from what he always was, and that is a man- 
ly, gentle, light-hearted man, considerate for others and 
true to himself and to those who love him." 



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RIOHLAJRID K. ^OX, I»ta.toli®lx©r ? 

FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK, 



•••THE ••• 



A TREATISE ON THE ftULES AND PRINCIPLES 



OF TRAINING FOR 



ATHLETIC CONTESTS. 




?TN 









•^^AND'^* 



Tk • I^iiDen • of • PKj5ic^I • Culture. 

•»-£w^ A LSO <^-«- 

SHORT SKETCHES OF FAMOUS ATHLETES, THEIR EX. 

PERIENCES, AND THE NOTABLE CONTESTS IN 

WHICH THEY HAVE TAKEN PART. 



P#iee by Jflail, 25 Cents. 



RICHHRD K. FOX, Publisher, 

FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY, 



>THE-< 



COCKER'S GUIDE 




Hoxxt to Ttfain, peed and Btfeed Game 
Coeks foir the Pit. 



WITH VALUABLE HINTS, RULES AND OTHER 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. 



JPRIOEJ BY JVIAJttv, - 23 OJBJ^NTT® 



RICHHRD K. FOX, Publisher, 

FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK, 



Supply • and • Purchasing • Dep't 

Owing to the numerous orders I am daily receiving for all kinds 
of Sporting Goods and books of all descriptions, I have, for the 
convenience of the readers of the Police Gazette, opened a 

SUPPiY flflD PUHCHflSIJlG AGENCY. 

This department is in charge of a thoroughly competent man, 
and any orders that we are favored with will be filled at the manu- 
facturers' and publishers' lowest prices, A few of the articles we 
refer to : 

Base Balls, Base Ball Bats, Base Ball Masks, 
Catchers' Gloves, Breast Protectors, Lawn 
Tennis, Croquet, Hammocks, Fencing Foils, 
Fencing Masks, Ice Skates, Roller Skates, The 
American Hoyle, Poker Player, Hand Book 
of Whist, New Card Games, Hand Book of 
Cribbage, Progressive Poker, Pocket Hoyle, 
Manual of Chess, American Card Player, How 
Gamblers Win, One Hundred Tricks with 
Cards, Art of Wrestling, Boxing Made Easy, 
Equestrian Shirts, Jerseys, Jersey Cloth Goods 
(Shirts, etc.), Full Length Tights (Cotton and 
Silk), Knee Tights, Trunks (all colors), Leo- 
tards, Body Dresses, Bicycle Goods, Bicycle 
Hose, Silk Flesh Glove, English Perculine Run- 
ning Pants, Improved Jock Strap, Running 
Shoes, Running Corks, Imported Sheffield 
Spikes, Seamless Shoes, Boxing Gloves, Foot 
Balls. 

Your patronage is solicited. All orders 
must be accompanied by the CASH to receive 
attention. 

$10.00 WOKTH OF INF0EMATI0N. 

My New Mammoth 338-PAGE Catalogue of Sporting, Gymna- 
sium, Athletic and Miscellaneous Goods, handsomely illustrated 
with over 1000 plates, forwarded by mail, to any address upon 
receipt of 

Price, S^ Cents. 





KICHMD K. FOX, Franklin Sq, New York, 



New- 


*• (\Bi 


nel + P 


RoIo<J 


r^plis. 




ACTRESSES-.- SHOWING BUST. 


JL, ^/ 


Adoiina Psitti, 


Clara Morris. 


Isahelle Urquhart, 


? ay Templeton, 


Rosin a Vokes (2), 


[ Lillian Russell, 


Annie Walters. 


Maggie Arlington, 


Marion v.. Erie, 


Annie Meyers, 


Iiia Siddons. 


Carrie Wilson. 


Georgia Cay van, 


Li Hie May Hall, 


Maude Branscombe 


Ann Williams, 


Helen Weathersby, 


Neda Bowers. 


Agnes Miller. 


Marion De Grey 


Maiid Stuart. 


Lizzie Fletcher, 


Mairirie Mitchell, 


Florence Miller, 


Duchess ot Lei'nster 


K-sie Cameron 


Leiia Farrell. 


Minnie Palmer. Etta Martens (2), 


Lilian Price 


Miss Jerome, 


Frankie Kemble (2) 


II Dauvrav Ward. Laura Russell, 


Agnes De LaPorte 


Helen Daere, 


Louise Kerker (2), 


Maude Wentworth, Marion Roberts, 


Marion Edgecombe 


• Belle Archer. 


Agnes Evans, 


Adelaide Emerson, Hope Tempie. 


Mlle.Dauvray 


Lurline Birdsall, 


Cora Tinnie. 


Florence St. John, Maude Granger, 


Miss Tua 


Edith Cnester, 


Marion Percy, 


Maud Harrison, Kate Foray the, 


Mrs. Scott Siddons 


Helen Barry, 


Corinne, 




Lillian Grubb, 


Emma Thursby 


Anna Oolwell, 
Leslie ('iiester. 






Julia Marlowe, 
Ada McDonald, 


Kate Davis 

May Wheeler (2), 


Ada Rehan. 




; 


Jennie McNulty, 


Lilly Post. 




z^vmS^t^ 


Miss Crouzet. 


Ella Weattierbee, 


Edith Merrill 


Letiy Lind, 




J^^^^fet^' ' 


Estelle Clayton. 


Marie Prescott, 


Marie Tempest 


Miss' Parr, 




,-■."-•<-'. 


Miss Van Osten 


Katherine Lynn, 


Miss Engle 


Emily Rijyl, 




1 c~ r 


Isabelle Evesso 


l, Bella Ravmond. 


Pearl Ardine 


Miss Bice. 




Miss Saroltat. 


Mrs. L Eldridge, 


Mile. Bad.) 


Miss Elvin, 




""llll~ !§■ 


Flora Henderson Miss Fortescue, 


Mile. De Matsy 


Mrs. Hauer, 




:■ .-_ . 


Pauline Hall, 


Florence Dysart, 


Lizzie Fleury 


Amy Roche, 




" -'■ '■-- •'•'' ^m--- '' i -^::!::: 


Mollie Fuller, 


La Belle Fatima, 


Violet Cameron, 


Cornalba, 




aflfr. " ¥■■'■ TB&JBs/' 


Seiina Fetter. 


Harriet Vernon, 


Pauline Lucca 


Lila Blow, 




- W^s/S WSJ^S.-. ']::!:! 


Sturgis Leath, 


Marion Hood, 


Louise Tnorndyke 


Eva Lee, 






Miss Brewster, 


Sara Holmes, 


Emma Nevada 


Annie Robe, 


i 




Marie J an sen, 


Isabella Coe, 


f Mile Eames, 
; Mile. Nalidji. 


Annie Irish, 




Cora Tanner. 


Xesia Carls tad t, 


Lotta. 


1 




Jane Hading, 


Hilda Thomas, 


Mile. Paulette, 


Janisch. 


|.;.:^?^»Vr ; ;'V^^Sr 


Louise Lester, 


Mile. Darcelle 


Mile. Carnesi, 


Aiice Evans, 


: s--v^^^^^^^M^^^" ■■'■■■' . 


Louisa Dillon, 


Maude Millett, 


Mile. Lehure. 


Miss Patrice, - 


ZTT'^Cs^v * 


Lillian Olcott. 


Mrs. Marini 


Mile. Fa Beauty, 


Minna Gaie, 


Marie Halton. 


Mrs. Barrington 


Mile. Deharconrt, 


Syivia Grey, 


Rose Newham 


Miss McNulty 


Mile. Dieroza, 


Miss Mack. 




Mabel Millette, 


Corine Gilchrist 


Mile Dandeville, 


Sadie Martinot. 


Mrs. Fitzherbert. 


Bell Howard. 


Mile. Vallier. 


Mile. Chassaing, 


Clara Louise Kellogg. Geraldine Clnier (2). 


Josephine Cameron 


, (-arrie Godfrey, 


Mile. Lliery (4), 


Fanny Davenport, 


Phyllis Broughton, 


lirace Stewart. 


Josie Manstield 


Mile Cobure. 


Mrs Laiiirtry! 


Florence Ashnrooke, 


Mi^s Raymond, 


Mile. Bert i ni 


Emma Carson, 


Minnie Maduern, 
AC 


Irene Verona (2), 


Uiara Dervyra, 
ffTS. 


Flora Moore, 




rRESSES— IN TIG] 


Pauline Markham, 


May Bell. 


Emma Carson, 


Ulle. Bianra, 


Kate Uart (2), 


Anna Boyd (3), 


Elaine Carringford 


Maude Granger, 


Miss Vallos 


Miss Robinson, 


Clara Terry 


Grade Wilson. 


Carrie Wilson, Mile. Ferrare 


Mav Livingston, 


Ruth Stetson (4), 


Annie Sutherland, 


Lelia Farrell (2), 


Miss Sheridan 


Kitty Wells, 


Mabel Mitchell, 


Miss Valles, 


Agnes Evans, 


Forence Girard. 


Alice Townsend, 


Miss Bell. 


Mile Debuege, 


E. Verge (2), Carrie Andrews (2), 


Mile. Germaine, 


Carrie Evivn, 


Miss Spiller, 


Lilian Grubb, Genevieve Btett, 


Marion Manola, 


Eflie La Tour, 


Grace Huntley 


Fio Henderson, Hattie Delaro, 


Miss Polak, 


Eisie Geronie, 


Jennie Lee 


Ada Webb, 


Vernona Jar beau. 


Mile. Duprey, 


Amy Gordon. 


Victorina 


Nellie Farren. 


Phedora DeGilbert 


Eliza Vovel, 


Daisy Murdock (2), 


Ida Yeararce. 


Miss Stuard (4), 


Louise Montague, 


Miss Venus, 


Grace Seavey. 


Miss Miller. 


Harriet Vernon, 


Florence Chester 


Eunice Vance 


Annie Siiimiierville 


Jeannette Larger, 


Addie Conyers, 


Laura Burt. 


Annie Bennett 


Fanny Rice. 


Abe Ionia Barreson, 


Mile. Dieroza, 


Lilly Elton (4), 




Jessie West. 


Irene Verona (5). 


Mile. Volti, 


Marion Elmore, 




Alice Arnold, 


Sylvia Grey, 

ACT 


Billie Barlow, 


Ella Moore, 
UME. 




RESSES---IN COST 


Lydia Thompson, 


Kate Claxton, 


Marie Finney, Mile. Bonnet (2) 


Sadie Martinot, 


Mary Anderson. 


Clara Thorpe. 


Sybil Sanderson, Rose Murray 


Minnie Palmer, 


Margaret Mather. 


Adelaide Detchon, 


Mrs. Kendal, Pearl Eytinge 


Lillian Russell, 


Mrs. J B. Potter (2) 


Fannie Blood-rood. 


Alice Letkbridge, Marie Roze 


Modjeska, 


Maggie Cline. 


Aniorita Bontinella, 


Marion Hood, Agnes Booth 


Clara Morris, 


lsabeda Irving, 


Emily Hainan. 


Mrs Bernard Beere, Christine Nillson 


Helen Weathersby, 


Myra Goodwin. 


Mile. Franciain 


Maude Richardson, EminaJueh 


Marie Janseii. 


Katie Seymour, 


Surf Queen 


Mile. Periane, 3 


lary Moore 


Marie Halton (2), 


Rose Cdtghian 


Laura Don 


Mlie. Tanzi, Ella B. Sheridan, 


Doliie Noble, 


Minnie Jeoffrevs, 


Mrs. A. Neilson 


Mile. Ajour, Ellen Terry, 


Adelaide Fitz Allen, 


Catherine Lewis 


Mrs. Chanlrau 


Mde. Pauiine, Delia Ferrell, 


Jeannette Bouveret, 


Jennie Winston. 


Bertha Ricci 


Mile. Grigolatis, ( 


arrie Tu Tein, 


Minnie Dupree. 


Amelia Glover, 


Paola Marie 


Mile. Carmen, Mabel Hudson, 


Miss Dunsombe 


Mrs. J W. Florence. 


Irene Verona. 


Mde. Nerette, Marion Pierce, 


Soledad Meuendoz 


Annie Pixley, 


Isabel Urquhart, 


Marie Cahill, Miss Williamson 


Mile. Stewen 


Tneo. 


Maude Stewart, 


Belle Bilton, > 


larie Wainwright, 


Jennie Hauk 


Heoririe Dennin. 


Marion Elmore, 


Zeiia De Lussan, S 


ara Bernhardt, 


Jeffreys Lewis 


Ma<lame Gerster, 


Helen Barry, 


Jennie La Tellier, Lotta, 


Maui" Vickers 


ModjesKa, 


Mile. Theiry, 

> K. F03 




Sylvia Gerrish, Pauline Hall, 


Emma Abbott 

Huare, N. Y. 


RICHARB 


^ 


Publisher, Franklin Sc 



r 



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Theatrical Paper Published. 



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POIilCE GAZETTE PUBMSfllflG flOUSE, 

Richard k. fox, editor and proprietor, 
FRHNKLIN SQUPCRE, - - NBSn£ YOR' 



\ WEEKS 



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